About Naturopathy

WHAT DO NATUROPATHS DO?

What is Nutritional Medicine?

It is an approach to healthcare which utilises all aspects that may affect a client’s health: stress, diet, drugs, foods, lifestyle and exercise. Healthcare practitioners who specialise in this area are referred to as Naturopaths.

“The power of Nutritional Medicine is amazing: it is life changing, it is life saving”Quotation from Dr Sandra Cabot’s book: “Diabetes Type 11 and How to Reverse it Naturally”.

What is Naturopathy?

It is an holistic method of treatment utilising herbal and nutritional medicine to work with the body’s innate ability to correct itself, regain balance and overcome illness.

Why visit a Naturopathic Practitioner?

Naturopaths interpret signs and symptoms to help find the possible root cause of the illness. A treatment plan may then be implemented to start a process to reverse painful symptoms and restore cellular health.

What is involved in a Naturopathic Consultation?

Documentation of medical history, accidents and noting life changing events.

Listing medical drugs, herbal medicines and nutritional supplements.

Noting possible reactions or contraindications.

Identification of areas of pain, organ dysfunction, all symptoms.

Listing all foods eaten, documenting intolerances and allergies.

Various diagnosis tests may be used such as testing for heavy metals, live blood microscopy, PH, hair tissue mineral analysis, iridology, zinc status, candida, celiac and other specialised testing dependant on need including ABO blood typing (rhesus factor not applicable).

A treatment plan is discussed, including costs, once all information is received.

How much time is required for a consultation?Initial consultation requires time to collect data and one hour minimum is necessary. Subsequent consultations are dependant on the presenting health problem and may require ongoing hourly sessions or half hour sessions. It is recommended to commit to a minimum of three sessions.

Does Naturopathy include Nutrition?All Naturopaths receive nutritional training. As food is part of what we do every day and influences our health daily, food advice is included in a treatment plan. Food and super food recommendations may include eating according to your nutritional or metabolic type which is best determined by your blood group.

Eating to your blood type is well documented with excellent resources available from your practitioner, books, internet and apps.

Detox programs, water, sleep and exercise are all considered in a treatment plan.

What does Naturopathy treat?All health issues as it is a system that sees the body, mind and emotion as all interactive, one part affects another. All symptoms give insight to the inner terrain. All major health states are included: diabetes, asthma, fertility, hormonal problems, arthritis, spots injuries, cold, flu, viruses, candida, fatigue, sleep, adrenal fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, gluten intolerance, gut and all digestion issues, fatty liver, allergies, skin problems, ADHD, weight loss and weight gain.

Naturopathy treatment requires ongoing health help.

Discussion of changes to original symptoms, monitor possible detox reaction.

Adjustment of prescribed nutrition/herbs in accordance with upgrade in health.

To ensure treatment program is having a beneficial effect.

Continuing education to enable the client to be in control of their health ongoing.

Are you taking vitamins and minerals as prevention or vitamins as treatment?Abram Hoffa, father of Orthomolecular (nutritional) medicine, stated successfully treating patients with high dose vitamin C and B group vitamins in 1952. When taking a low dose Vitamin C you are unlikely to develop scurvy, and it is taking vitamins as prevention of a deficiency disease. On the other hand, by taking mega doses, you are using vitamins as a treatment for a specific disease state.

“Practitioner Only “natural medicine requires a prescription, as concentrated nutrients act like medicines but without side effects. They do bring beneficial change when correctly prescribed by an accredited health professional: naturopath, doctor or chiropractor.

Are you taking a raft of supplements you have self prescribed?Naturopaths will give professional advice on the vitamins, minerals and herbs you may now be taking which are not supplying your health needs because you have self prescribed. Confidential consultations will address your health needs in depth, and especially if you are taking economy quality supplements and you are continuing to feel fatigue and unwell.

See “About Naturopathy” articles for in depth information on the Naturopathic Profession.

Downloads on the Industry

The natural health industry or complementary health care industry is regulated and monitored by various organisations. Practitioners, as students and after graduation from an accredited college, are able to register with their selected organisation. This organisation will then on register them with the TGA to enable issue of a TGA Certificate of Exemption. This certificate indicates that the person is a bona fide member of an organisation listed in Schedule One of the Regulations of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
Recertification is required annually and requires proof of continuing education, relevant insurance and First Aid certificate along with relevant fees. The TGA Certificate is then updated yearly indicating current professional status.

> Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association (ANPA) Statement.The ANPA is the peak professional naturopathy association run by naturopaths for naturopaths in Australia. Established in 1975 this democratic association supports and represents naturopaths across Australia. It is actively engaged in representing issues that affect naturopaths at all levels, state and federal ensuring compliance with the highest standards. The ANPA continually strives to educate the public and other health professionals in the media about the profession.www.anpa.asn.au

> Australian Natural Therapists Association Limited (ANTA)is the largest national democratic association of 'recognised professional' traditional medicine and natural therapy [Complimentary Medicine] practitioners who work in the areas of health care and preventative medicine. ANTA was founded in 1955 and represents the multi-disciplinary interests of approximately 5900 accredited practitioners Australia-wide. ANTA is one of the original Schedule 1 bodies as defined in the regulations of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. ANTA works with Governments, Researchers, Educators, Health Funds, Work Cover Authorities and Professional Organisations.

> Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS)is a national professional association of natural medicine practitioners. It is a multi-disciplinary association representing around 11,800 accredited practitioners throughout Australia. The ATMS was founded in 1984 and is an incorporated not-for-profit company with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. ATMS is the only natural medicine practitioner association appointed to two Commonwealth statutory committees, where it represents the interests of the natural medicine practitioner profession.

> National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)was incorporated in 1920 and is the oldest complementary medicine association in Australia. The NHAA has a long record of working behind the scenes for the interests of herbal medicine. At the "big picture" level, protecting and advancing the profession is important for the entire country and allows the public greater access to a viable and effective treatment option. Involvement in various committees and discussion groups, and production of submission papers and media releases are among the many activities of the Board.

> Australian Homeopathic Association (AHA)is the largest and national association of professional Homoeopaths in Australia, with branches throughout the country. All Professional Members are registered with the Australian Register of Homoeopaths (AROH). The objectives of the AHA are to promote Homoeopathy and to provide services for members

See “Dispensing Natural Medicine and Nutritional Supplements" for regulation of supply, prescribing and sale of nutritional and herbal medicines.